Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
Starling General
Henry groaned as he woke up in the bed, trying to remember.
"Mr. Fyff." Henry turned to the doctor. "Do you know, where you are?"
"What…" Henry tried to remember as he groaned. "My car—"
"You were in an accident. You got a flat tire and you jumped the curb." The doctor nodded.
"My head hurts." Henry clutched his head.
"It's just concussion. You just need a few days rest and you'll be fine."
"Who… who found me?"
"Someone pulled you out from the car. We don't know who. They called an ambulance."
Henry tried to remember as then, Nicole entered, hugging him. "Thank God you're OK. You scared the hell out of me."
"I'm fine, Nicky." Henry assured her. "Just a concussion, that's all. I've been worse. But… something strange happened."
"What?" Nicole asked.
"I saw Richard. Right before I passed out." Henry smiled. "But… it's crazy, right? I mean, he's gone. We saw him die." He laughed. "I…" He took a breath. "For years, I had blamed him for what happened to us… but… I know in the end he did the best he could. I've dreamt so many times of seeing him again… just to make up for all of it and make peace. It… it felt so real… strange, is it?"
"Yeah, really strange." Nicole nodded.
The Lair
"Uh-huh, thank you." Chloe said as she hung up.
"Is he alright?" Sara asked.
"He'll be fine." Chloe assured her. "Someone pulled him out of the car, though, I wonder, who?"
"I did." Richard said as he entered the lair out of the sudden as Chloe and Sara gasped.
"Oh, Jesus, don't do that!" Chloe breathed out. "You scared the hell out of me!"
"What are you doing here?" Sara asked.
"See if you guys are alright." Richard explained. "As soon as I heard that Hank got in a car accident, I stepped up."
"And…" Chloe paused, waiting for further explanation.
"You know how he reacted to seeing me the last time." Richard sighed. "And even though we've made amends, I doubt he'd want to let me into his and Nicky's life anytime soon."
"So what?" Sara snapped. "You'll step up, whenever your family's in trouble and then bail out on them, like some kind of a scarecrow?"
"You know it's not like that, Sara." Richard said calmly.
"With the League out there, it's not safe for Richard to stay here." Oliver agreed.
Then, Chloe's phone rang as she answered. "Nicky. Hey, is Henry—"
"Cut the crap, Chloe." Nicole said coldly. "I want to talk to Richard, I know he's there with you."
Three years ago, Africa
"I'm glad you're back." Nicole hugged Richard as she smiled at him, then kissing him.
"Not everyone's happy to see me, though." Richard said sadly as he looked at the rooms across the corridor, where were Jack, Henry, Chloe and Naomi.
"They'll come around." Nicole said. "What matters is that it's over."
"But, we still need to go back to the sanctuary with Sara." Richard explained. "Ducra needs the Essence back."
"I'll come with you." Naomi said as she went out with Jack and Sara as Sara noticed, how she and Jack were looking at each other.
Sara then gently put Jack aside, smiling. "Are you and Naomi—"
"Yeah." Jack nodded, smiling.
"You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend." Sara teased.
"It's… a long story. Naomi and I…" Jack paused. "Let's just say we have a complicated past."
Sara nodded in understanding.
"We should go." Richard ordered. "Ducra needs the Essence."
As they went out, Naomi's eyes were shining pale white briefly.
Present
Nicole was waiting in the Chinese restaurant as Richard entered and she hugged him tightly before kissing him fiercely. "I missed you, you know?"
Richard smiled. "Same here, Nicks."
They both sat at the counter as she glared at him. "Did you have anything to do with the car accident?"
"It wasn't me." Richard shook his head. "But I think… they used him to draw me out."
"The League?" Nicole asked, worried. "What are you gonna do?"
"Make sure they won't bother any of you anymore." Richard said as she realized, where was he going with this.
"And you're gonna walk away from us again?" She scoffed. "That's how it's gonna be?" Nicole sighed. "Richard, I get you're trying to protect us but at the very least, don't you think you and my brother should make amends?" Richard stared. "He did blame you for a while, but when we lost you again, all he wanted was to apologize and make it right."
"It wasn't his fault." Richard assured her.
"But it wasn't yours either." Nicole smiled. "Look, I know you're trying to protect us all but what about my son? He… at least be there for Riley. After I lost Ian… I know Hank's trying but without you, it's not how it should be."
"One day." Richard promised as he held her shoulder. "But right now, I gotta go."
Richard was walking down the Glades as the Arrow and the Canary were watching from afar before two pieces of fabric fell down from above as a woman in black and red cape descended down and both vigilantes widened their eyes in recognition.
Nyssa got up on her feet with a dagger in her hand as she neared Richard and to the Arrow's and the Canary's surprise, they kissed passionately for a brief, yet enough long moment before pulling away. "I wasn't sure what would you do, Nyssa." Richard smiled.
"To be honest, neither did I." Nyssa smiled back. "I am surprised that Miss Lance and Mr. Queen have become your friends." She turned around to face the Arrow and Canary. "It has been a while."
"What do you want?" Oliver asked.
"Answers." Nyssa replied. "And for Tah-neen to return to Nanda Parbat."
"We had nothing to do with Talia's death." Sara said.
"Perhaps not." Nyssa nodded. "But you know, why, do you?"
"All I know that she went to Africa after I was done with her two years ago." Oliver said.
"What do you want with Richard?" Sara asked.
"Richard Dragon swore his allegiance to the League of Assassins." Nyssa explained. "It's time for him to return home."
"And what if we disagree?" Oliver shot back.
"Please, don't." Richard stepped up.
"You should consider yourselves lucky father did not decide to execute you for interfering with the League trying to get Tah-neen to return, or because of your connection to sister's demise." Nyssa sneered.
"Nyssa, please…" Richard pleaded. "These are my friends… and my family. Let me handle this."
Laurel's Apartment
Laurel was going over the evidence from Moira's trial as she still couldn't help but wonder, how was Moira cleared of all charges, when she should have been convicted before taking a closer look at her medical records and she widened her eyes.
Starling City
"You've grown older." Nyssa teased as they walked down the bay.
"Did I?" Richard smiled.
"Why did you leave Nanda Parbat without father's permission?" Nyssa asked.
"Nicky, Riley, Hank, I love them, you know that." Richard explained. "They're the closest thing I've had to family, even, if we didn't always meet eye to eye. I had to make sure they're alright."
"And so they are." Nyssa pleaded. "Come home."
"No." Richard shook his head. "I don't want to do this anymore. I've been responsible for many deaths… and can't say that most of them did not deserve it but… I can't… it needs to stop."
"You swore an oath." Nyssa reminded him. "My father sent me here to make sure you will honor it."
"And what about Oliver and Sara?" Richard asked. "What are you going to do to my friends?"
"They're the last people, who saw my sister alive." Nyssa said. "I know she was investigating the All-Caste and the monastery you and Miss Lance were in and it led to her demise."
"It's not their fault." Richard pleaded. "Don't hurt them. Please. And you and I both know you didn't come for me because of your father. It's because you still love me."
"When I found you… you were barely alive. Dying… and I nursed you back to health." Nyssa held his breast. "The only reason you and your friends are alive today is because of me."
Richard smiled. "I appreciate what you're trying… but my heart belongs to someone else."
"Nicole Fyff." Nyssa glowered.
"I'm sorry… but she would have been my family if it hadn't been for the job in Africa." Richard sighed. "I'll always care about you but I can't hurt her again. Your father will listen to you. You can ask him to release me."
Nyssa scoffed. "My father never released anyone from the League."
"He released Malcolm Merlyn." Richard reminded her.
"An action he and the citizens of this city dearly regret." Nyssa pointed out.
"You know I am nothing like him." Richard sighed. "I didn't mean for what happened in Africa to happen and I never killed an innocent person, at least not on purpose." He pulled the dagger out of her belt and handed it to her. "You know what you must do."
Nyssa held the dagger and stared at Richard before grabbing it as she grunted.
The Lair
Chloe rushed down to the lair as she showed Oliver and Sara a small dart. "I looked at the place, where Henry's car rammed. This was in his tire. League of Assassins."
Sara sneered. "They attacked him to draw Richard out."
"And they might go after Nicole and Riley next." Oliver realized.
Three years ago, Africa
As Naomi, Jack, Sara and Richard went back to the caverns, the monks were aiming their weapons at them. "What's going on?" Sara asked.
"You released the Essence." Ducra warned.
"And we took down Turner. It's gone." Richard assured her.
"No." Ducra said. "It is still out there."
Then, Naomi's eyes were suddenly shining white as Jack looked worried. "Naomi, are you OK?"
Naomi then tossed Ducra, Jack, Sara and Richard on the ground telekinetically. "You locked me… like an animal." She said in a demonic voice. "Now, you will suffer!" She then fired some spikes from her hand as she killed the monks.
Present, Starling General
Henry was reading a book as Barbara sat across him. "I appreciate you coming here."
"You know I'm always here for you and Nicky." Barbara smiled.
Riley was going for a drink in a vending machine as a large man in lab coat approached him.
"Riley?" Barbara was looking around the hospital before she saw a dark-haired woman carrying a little boy around the corner and her blood ran cold.
Later, Starling City
The Arrow, the Canary and Richard in a black hood were chasing the van on bikes in the tunnel as the Canary turned on her sonic device, stunning Nyssa and the assassin in the tunnel as the windows of the van shattered and they were nearing the van as Richard jumped on the roof, but Nyssa fired through the roof as Richard dodged and fell over, seeing the son of the woman he loves, unconscious as Nyssa slugged him in the face and he fell down on the ground and banged the concrete angrily. "Damn it!"
"Where's my son?!" Nicole demanded as she pinned Richard to the wall.
"Nicky, calm down!" Richard said calmly but she hit him in the face, breaking his nose as she let him go, sighing, frustrated.
"God, what was I thinking? Every time I want to believe that you've changed and that you're not making things any harder on us anymore, you prove me wrong! You come back and make things worse instead!" Nicole yelled.
"Nicole, stop!" Oliver intervened. "We'll find your son, I promise."
"Gosh, just tell me, who took my son!" Nicole exploded.
"Nyssa al Ghul." Sara explained. "She's a powerful figure in the League. She's the one, who was behind Henry's accident."
"All of that, just so you could return to the League?" Nicole asked sarcastically.
"So that I could come back to her." Richard said as she widened her eyes, hurt and partly betrayed before she let him go and more stress flooded through her as she wiped her face.
"Oh, my God, oh, my God… I hoped you wouldn't be bringing this crap on my doorstep anymore but… it's like Africa all over again." Nicole groaned.
Then, Richard's phone rang. "Nyssa, let him go. Please. He's just a child. An innocent child. I'm begging you, don't do this."
"You have one day, Tah-Neen. Make the right choice." Nyssa said coldly.
Starling General
"Hank, don't." Barbara stopped him as he was putting on his jacket.
"Barbara, I'm fine, really." Henry assured her before looking around. "Where's Riley?" Barbara paused as he noticed the look on her face. "Barbara. What's going on?"
Barbara sighed. "You need to promise me you won't do anything stupid."
Later, the Lair
Henry burst in, yelling. "Richard Dragon!"
"Oh, no…" Chloe and Sara paled as Richard tensed.
Henry glared at him for a moment before approaching him and punching him in the face. "You bastard!"
"Hey, calm down!" Diggle and Oliver restrained him. "Come on, Henry, that's enough!"
"You show up in our lives again and then you turn them around!" Henry snarled.
"Calm down, Henry!" Chloe and Sara approached him.
"My nephew! Again! Because of you!" Henry snapped before glaring at Sara. "When were you gonna tell me?!" He demanded angrily.
"Henry, just take a deep breath and calm down, OK?" Sara asked, holding his hand. "Please."
Henry deflated himself before calming down as Oliver and Diggle let him go. "League of Assassins. Here. Because of you." Henry sighed. "Why didn't any of you tell me?" He asked with a forced calm tone as he looked at everyone.
"Because of this." Chloe said. "Because we knew exactly how you would react."
"So, what? You two are just gonna move on from Africa and forgive him?" Henry scoffed. "And pretend we're all good? After everything that's happened?"
"If I could take back what happened, I would." Richard snapped. "But I can't. I can only try to make it right as best as I can."
"And how is joining the League making things any better?" Henry hissed. "You traded one devil for another."
"I never asked for any of this to happen. But I'm trying to fix that." Richard reasoned. "Please. Hank. We were friends once."
Henry glared at everyone before sighing. "Fine. We'll search for my nephew but we will discuss this, when this is all over. Do we have a plan?"
Starling City
Richard was outside, waiting in an alley as Henry approached him. "I'm sorry about earlier… I let my past feelings towards you get the better out of me."
"I understand if you're still mad." Richard shrugged. "What happened was mostly my fault."
Henry sighed. "For so long, I did blame you but… you saved us. Gave your life, so that my family would live. I can't fault you for that… and if I could take back what had happened, I would."
"So do I." Richard smiled.
Then, an assassin descended down from above as a veil of silk dropped down and Richard engaged him before the Arrow and Canary came to assist but then, Henry slugged the assassin in his face as Richard held him in chokehold. "Where's Nyssa?!"
"Tell me, where did you take my nephew!" Henry demanded, aiming a gun at the assassin, who started to say something in Arabic as Richard realized, what was he doing.
"A prayer! Don't you dare!" He snarled as the assassin drank from a small vial as Richard let him go and the assassin fell down, dead.
"Bastard!" Henry snapped.
Later, the Lair
"I'm sorry about keeping it secret from you." Nicole said apologetically. "I just… I—"
"You didn't trust me." Henry scoffed. "After everything—"
"No, it's not like that." Nicole tried to explained as Chloe and Sara were about to intervene. "I know that you blame him for what's happened but you should realize that Africa was not his fault."
Henry sighed. "I know that and I don't blame him anymore. Did you think I would kill him for what happened?"
"Do I need to remind you what were the last words you ever said to him?" Nicole glared.
Henry sighed, nodding and remembering. "Run, while you still can, because next time we see each other again, we're not gonna be friends anymore!"
"If I could take back what happened, I would." Henry said sadly and guiltily.
"We'll find him, don't worry." Chloe assured them.
"I need some time to clear my thoughts." Henry went out from the lair as he sighed.
"Hank, I'm sorry…" Nicole tried to plead with her brother.
Later, Queen Consolidated
Oliver, Diggle, Zehra and Laurel were at the press conference as Laurel approached him as he was about to give his speech. "Ollie, there… there's something I need to tell you."
"Is everything OK?" Oliver scowled.
Laurel took a breath. "Well, no. It's… after your Mom's trial, I went over the evidence, because, let's be honest, we both know that the verdict didn't make any sense." Oliver nodded. "There were some old medical records of your Mom that Donner had and… well…" She sighed deeply. "Ollie, there's no easy way to tell you this."
"What's going on, Laurel?" Oliver asked, worried.
Starling City
Richard was on the rooftop as the phone rang. "Time's up. Have you made your decision?" Nyssa asked.
"Let Riley go and I'll come back to Nanda Parbat with you."
Nyssa sighed in relief. "You're doing the right thing, Richard. For both of us."
Later, the Lair
"He'll come around." Chloe promised Nicole. "Eventually."
"I should never have asked you to keep away from him that Richard's alive." Nicole sighed before her phone rang. "Yeah?"
"Nicky, I know where Riley is. Don't tell Sara or anyone else, OK?"
Nicole sighed as she hung up. "Sorry, Chloe, I need to go out."
Queen Consolidated
Oliver stood in front of Laurel in shock at the news he had just learned as behind him was Walter talking to the crowd, with Moira, Thea and Mark Frances behind him. "I say this with confidence. Because the Moira Queen I know is more than a successful CEO and a philanthropist. She is a loving mother, who devoted her life to raising two wonderful children. Just to tell you how special she is, I'd like to welcome her son, CEO of Queen Consolidated, Mr. Oliver Queen."
Oliver approached the podium in front of the cameras as he cleared his throat. "Thank you. Well, I'm here today to say a few words…" He paused. "…about Moira Queen." He said slowly. "I bet many of you think you know her because you read about her in the press, or you saw her on TV. But I can promise you, you don't know my mother. You don't know her like I do." Again, he paused briefly. "And you don't know what she's capable of… when it comes to helping the people of Starling City. Ladies and gentlemen, my mother, Moira Queen."
An applaud sounded through the lobby as Oliver approached Moira and whispered to her ear. "I know."
Later, the Lair
Chloe was looking over the CCTV before she saw Richard and Nicole and Henry and she realized, where was he going. "You god-damned idiot!"
She shot up from the desk as Oliver, Diggle and Sara went down. "I know where Richard's going and Henry's following him. I think I know what is he gonna do, he's gonna kill Nyssa. I put a tracer on Henry because he often does these stupid stunts."
"Good idea." Sara nodded.
"We need to stop them before they kill Nyssa." Oliver said.
"Guys, I hate to sound cold but why do we care if Richard kills some badass assassin that wants to get him and his family?" Diggle demanded.
"Because, Diggle…" Oliver murmured with a grim look. "If half of the stories that I have heard about Ra's al Ghul are true, if Richard or Henry kill his daughter, we will all pay."
Later, Starling Docks
"What do you want from my Uncle?" Riley asked, restrained as Nyssa circled around him.
"They're coming for you now." Nyssa said as Nicole entered.
"Riley!"
"Mom!" Riley wailed as he rushed to her. "Mom, what's going on?"
"It's gonna be OK, honey." Nicole hugged her son tightly as he widened his eyes to see Richard.
"Dad?" Riley whispered as he hugged him. "I thought you were dead!"
"It's OK, Riley." Richard smiled. "But I need to go."
"What? Dad? Why?" Riley asked.
"Honey, you heard Daddy, we need to go." Nicole told him as he was going hysterical.
"Dad, please, no!"
Nyssa nodded subtly as Richard approached her before collapsing on the floor as Nyssa moved to his side and saw the hemorrhaging in his eyes. "You took the poison. No!" He collapsed in her arms as she screamed.
Henry entered the docks as he saw his sister and nephew. "Nicky! Riley!" He hugged them. "Thank God!"
"Dad…" Riley said.
"I know, I know." Henry nodded before glaring at Nicole.
"Please, I'm sorry—"
"Don't worry about it right now." Henry assured her. "Just get to safety, I'll handle it."
Henry saw Nyssa holding Richard in her arms. "Richard, no!" He approached them. "You stubborn bastard!" Nyssa got up on her feet.
"If you want to be with your loved ones so badly, they can join you in eternity." She glared.
"Nyssa, don't." Henry pleaded. "It doesn't have to be this way."
"I'm afraid it does." Nyssa pulled out her dagger before the Arrow showed up and disarmed her and the Canary showed up next to him.
"Live or die, it's up to you." The Arrow said as he fired but Nyssa dodged expertly and grabbed her bow from the table as the Arrow and the Canary hid in the shadows.
"You two would have been valuable warriors in father's ranks." Nyssa smirked, intrigued.
"We'll never join you!" The Canary yelled.
Oliver fired an arrow but Nyssa dodged as she picked her bow from a table. She fired an arrow but Sara blocked it with her batons before she and Oliver vanished in the darkness. Nyssa looked around and saw Oliver on the rafters. Oliver dodged as Nyssa fired before they started shooting arrows at each other until Nyssa cut the strip of Oliver's quiver as it fell off Oliver's back before Oliver and Sara then jumped down from the platform.
"Richard. We can still save him." Sara pleaded.
"Worry more about saving yourselves." Nyssa sneered as she engaged them.
Sara used her baton to block the arrow that Nyssa fired before her baton crossed with Nyssa's bow. Sara dodged as Nyssa swung her bow, while Oliver attacked but Nyssa knocked the bow off his hand before throwing him to the ground.
Oliver rolled away to recover as Sara blocked Nyssa's kick. They both exchanged blows before Nyssa kicked Sara in the leg, getting her on her knees and Nyssa pulled out a knife but Oliver grabbed Nyssa by her arm as they rolled down the ground before he had her in chokehold, his arm around Nyssa's neck as she struggled for breath.
"Don't kill her. Please." Richard said weakly as he collapsed on the ground as Sara rushed to him.
"No. Richard. No. I'm not gonna let you die. Not this time." Sara said.
Richard got up as he stared at Nyssa with a pleading look. "I can't work for him anymore… please, Nyssa."
Nyssa lowered her bow as the tears were filling her eyes. "Tah-Neen, in the name of Ra's al Ghul, I release you."
Later, Queen Manor
Moira was watching her announcement on TV before Oliver entered the living room and she turned the mute button on the remote as she looked at him, in her hand a glass of scotch. "I know we need to talk."
"You need to listen." Oliver interrupted her calmly. "For the past year, I have stood by your side and I have fought because I wanted to believe that you weren't this… monster. And I needed to believe that I still had a mother."
"You do, Oliver…" Oliver stopped her by raising his hand as he glared. "Oliver, I only lied about Thea to protect her from Malcolm."
"No, you lied because that is what you do." Oliver retorted. "And that is who you are, Mom. Lies. And now you've made a liar about me. Because Thea can never find out about Merlyn. And she can never know the truth about us. Which is that as of right now, we have no relationship." Moira's face shattered as she shook her head frantically. "I will keep appearances for Thea's sake and publicly, I will support your campaign. But privately, you and I are done."
He left the manor as Moira in vain tried to call him out. "Oliver! Oliver!"
Fyff's House
"I'm glad you're back, Dad." Riley smiled as they sat at the couch with Nicole, Sara, Chloe, Richard and Barbara.
"Riley, Babs, could you leave us alone for a moment, please?" Henry asked calmly as Barbara accompanied Riley to his room as Nicole stood up.
"Look, I know you're mad and I get it. But please, let me—"
"Let me say my piece first." Henry interrupted her as he sighed. "Look, I… I'm not gonna lie. I was pissed that you guys kept away from me that Richard was alive. I'm guessing you all thought that I would still blame him for Africa and want to kill him, do you?"
The look in their eyes answered his question as he sighed.
"I… guess I cannot fault you for that one. To be honest, I was mad… for so long… but looking back, you did the best you could in a bad situation, Richard and I shouldn't have to fault you for that either. I don't blame you anymore… and I wish we had parted on better terms. Despite everything, in the end, you were our friend."
Richard, Nicole and Sara smiled.
"But… can you honestly say that things have changed?" Henry pointed out as they went silent. "Again, Riley was kidnapped, I got hurt and you let him back into your lives… and you all move on so easily." He sighed. "I… I'm not mad at you anymore but… how can I know that you're not gonna make things worse for us sooner or later?"
"What are you saying?" Nicole asked.
"I… I guess I need some time… to be sure that he's not gonna mess our lives up again." Henry said sadly. "And I wish you had trusted me but I don't blame you for keeping it secret from me, considering how I reacted the last time. If you want him back in your lives, it's your choice. But I'm not sure if I can move on yet." He grabbed a duffel bag and went to the door.
"So, you're leaving?" Nicole asked her brother.
"I need some time to process things, that's all." Henry said as he left the house.
"He'll come around. Eventually." Barbara promised.
"He's a good man. And he knows it's not your fault." Sara assured him.
Three years ago, Africa
Ducra pulled out an amulet as it banished some ghost out of Naomi's body as she collapsed on the ground, passing out.
"Naomi, you OK?" Jack asked, worried.
"It possessed her." Ducra explained. "It will spread throughout the country, find a new host. We need to find it."
"She's cold as ice." Sara touched her skin.
"She doesn't have much time." Ducra nodded.
"No, no, there must be something you can do." Jack pleaded.
"We can slow down the process… but the moment the Untitled left its host, her sentence was given." Ducra said grimly as Jack's eyes were getting wet.
"We're going for a hunt then." Richard said as he and Sara and Jack were entering the car.
Present, Laurel's Apartment
Laurel heard the doorbell as she opened the door to Henry. "Hey, can I come in?"
"Is everything OK?" Laurel asked, scowling.
Henry sighed. "You won't mind if I crash here for a while? Something happened and… I need some time away from my family."
"What's going on?" Laurel asked.
"It's… a long story… but right now, I'm not sure if I can be around Ollie, Sara, Nicky or anyone else." Henry sighed sadly as she nodded. "You won't mind if I—"
"Sure." Laurel nodded and went to the kitchen. "I'll make some tea."
Henry sat down at the couch as she handed him the cup and he smiled as he held her hand.
Fyff's House
"He fell asleep." Richard assured Nicole as he went out from Riley's room. "You think Henry'll come around?" He asked as he and Nicole were staring at each other in the corridor.
"He never holds grudges for long. He needs time." Nicole smiled. "But, I'm glad you're back. You're home. With me." And next thing either of them knew, they started to kiss and strip each other of their clothes as they went into her room and laid down on bed.
So, what do you guys think about it?
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far.
As for Talia's death, it will be explained either by the end of this story, or in the sequel, assuming I will get to it.